Gov. Angus King, who never saw a tax he didn’t like or a surplus he couldn’t spend, now wants to tax the hospitals and nursing homes. His proposal includes a hazy “tax-and-match” plan that was developed by the Department of Human Services.

Hospitals have offered to pay $3.5 million as an alternative. How do they know he would be satisfied with this amount? Considering he has already accomplished a $240 million deficit, $3.5 million is small potatoes.

Is there any promise from Uncle Sam that would even remotely guarantee supporting a plan such as this? Where will the hospitals raise the $3.5 million? Many of them are running at a deficit. It would be a gamble to raise this amount and the tax-and-match plan, with no guarantee, would pay it back through increases in Medicaid.

John W. Bagley

Jonesboro